Chapter 33: People (Part 3)

The leisurely, pleasant days always pass in the blink of an eye; time has already flown to the day before the Wang Clan sends people to Wang Gu Lin to retrieve the property.

Wang Wu has also met Sun Da again these past few days; he sees nothing special about him, still carrying a basket and hawking all over the city.

Wang Wu will go buy some pastries, and casually ask about his family's situation, but again there is nothing special.

Life is good: his wife and sister‑in‑law are both pregnant, his younger brother's job at the yamen is well‑paid, and the family's life is full of prospects and hope, very happy.

Wang Wu detects no falsehood in his words, because they truly come from his heart.

As for the monster in the other's family, Wang Wu also thought about whether to give a subtle warning, but after a brief consideration he gave up.

One reason is that that night, in the other's house, although he didn't dare to look across, he sometimes could notice the tenderness in Wu Lian's eyes when she looked at her husband.

Wang Wu has never been in love, so he doesn't understand what love is. Still, he can see that the monster's relationship with his human husband is quite good.

Moreover, there are precedents for such matters.

For example, that monster which caused the Imperial Demon‑Subduing Army to sweep the area here; it treated its own wife well, loved her and her family.

Of course, it also loved others, to the point of loving them to the belly.

In the end, that whole family met a grim fate: not only the monster died, but the woman who married the monster and her entire clan were beheaded and displayed.

However, that family's fate cannot be called innocent, because the monster's human wife actually knew her husband's demonic lineage.

If she only knew that, it wouldn't matter; in truth, they could be let off, after all they are also victims.

The problem is that the wife helped her husband eat people, and when the monster's father‑in‑law learned this, he not only didn't eradicate his own kin, but even let his monster son‑in‑law devour a few of his own village enemies.

Thus the nature of the case changes. This counts as colluding with demons, harming one's own race; you can't just give the nine‑clan a free pass.

On the human side, Wang Wu can obtain the detailed information of the incident, the full story, its origins and development.

Of course, such detailed content is hard for ordinary people to know, but Li Yuan is not an ordinary person.

Wang Wu has been dealing a lot with Li Yuan these days; Li Yuan seems to be deliberately flattering him, not only taking him around the city, but also giving him a 'small gift'.

Although it's a 'small gift', for Wang Wu it is like coal in the snow.

Because the thing Li Yuan gave Wang Wu is a Qian Kun Ring, commonly called a 'space ring'.

This item isn't particularly rare, but it isn't cheap; essentially only the wealthy can afford it.

Even the smallest Qian Kun Ring usually costs several gold pieces.

Gold is currently the highest denomination currency in the human society of this world; fifty taels of silver equal one gold, and a gold weighs only about one tael.

And this 'gold' is not the traditional gold of Wang Wu's hometown; although it does contain some gold, it isn't the main component.

Wang Wu doesn't know the exact composition, only that it is the circulating currency of the cultivator world, or the realm of the transcendent.

Cultivators usually carry a Qian Kun Sleeve, so they rarely need this item unless they have to store a lot of stuff or something that won't fit in the sleeve, then they put it in the space ring.

The space ring Li Yuan gave Wang Wu isn't small; its internal volume is about fifteen cubic meters.

Li Yuan said he found it on a monster when he was exorcising it before; but as a cultivator he has no use for it, so he gave it to Wang Wu.

At noon, as in the past three days, Wang Wu sat in a restaurant called 'Fang Yi Guan' in He Dong Xian waiting for the dishes. Opposite him were Li Yuan, who had been treating him to meals these days, and a middle‑aged man.

The middle‑aged man wore a purple scholar's robe, had a refined temperament, handsome features, a tuft of goat‑beard on his chin, and an air of distinction.

In Wang Wu's understanding, purple has always been a noble color in both Eastern and Western ancient societies, reserved for the upper class.

He doesn't know if that holds here, but judging by Li Yuan's attitude, this fellow does seem rather extraordinary.

Wang Wu is meeting this middle‑aged man for the first time today; Li Yuan introduced him.

"Come, come, Wang brother, this is our County Assistant Ximen of He Dong County." As the host of this meal, Li Yuan poured tea for Wang Wu and the middle‑aged man, and warmly introduced the latter's position to Wang Wu.

"Young hero Wang." The middle‑aged man smiled friendly, bowed his hands and said, "You truly are a jade tree in the wind, exceptionally handsome. I am Ximen Pei."

Hearing the name, especially the surname, Wang Wu's mouth twitched imperceptibly, but was quickly covered by a courteous smile:

"I am Wang Wu, pleased to meet Lord Ximen."

Good fellow, a Sun Fei, a Sun Da, and a Wu Lian, now we have Ximen Pei as well.

Wang Wu began to suspect that this country might still have a wild force called 'Liangshan'.

Perhaps this world is another stylized version of the Water Margin universe?

At this moment, the dishes previously ordered were brought out by several graceful maids, arranged neatly, and tea was served for Wang Wu and the others to rinse their mouths.

Ximen Pei, being a well‑known figure in the county, and Wang Wu and Li Yuan, both obviously extraordinary, naturally received the utmost attention from the innkeeper regarding their meals.

"May I ask, Young Hero Wang, whether you have been satisfied during your stay in He Dong County these past few days?" Ximen Pei asked with a smile, then picked up his chopsticks to take some food.

He was the first at the table to move his chopsticks; after he took a bite, Li Yuan followed suit.

As for Wang Wu, he was still sipping tea, just observing the order in which the two moved their chopsticks.

It seems Li Yuan is quite dominant in the Wang household, but here he appears to be yielding to Ximen Pei.

"Very good." Wang Wu smiled and nodded, "The scenery is beautiful, the people are fine; the roads are honest, the nights are safe. It seems Lord Ximen truly governs well."

"Hahaha! Young hero Wang, you are overly courteous!" Wang Wu's words seemed to please Ximen Pei, who burst into laughter, his face genuinely delighted.

Meanwhile, Li Yuan, hearing Wang Wu's endless flattery, couldn't help but mutter to himself:

"Mother, this kid's whole routine… where did he get those words? Tsk tsk tsk, spouting them without even knowing characters, if he ever learns them, what a mess…"

However, Ximen Pei's smile didn't linger long; after about ten seconds his expression returned to calm and grew a bit serious:

"Young hero Wang, I have a matter to ask, may I trouble you for an answer?"

(End of chapter)